Naruto: Drop System

After placing the Puppet Curse on Samui and sealing her memory of it, Yagyu also cast the Puppet Curse on Omoi, who was subdued by Shino, and the unconscious Karui, sealing their memories as well.

"Alright, I agree!"

When Samui came to her senses, she saw Yagyu nodding his head.

For some reason, she felt something strange but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Unfortunately, Samui hadn't paid attention to the time, nor did she have a pocket watch on her. Otherwise, she would have noticed that they had lost a minute or two.

Yagyu ignored her and raised his hand toward Kurama Yakumo, signaling her.

Soon, the severely distorted world around them—where even the sky and clouds looked like paintings—began to clear, and things started moving again.

"Time to prove yourself."

Yagyu released the restraints on Samui and pulled out a film camera from somewhere, gesturing for her to act.

"I understand."

The clever Samui quickly grasped Yagyu's intention. She nodded, picked up her short sword from the ground, and began to take the lives of the samurai and archers.

Yagyu took pictures of her actions, capturing everything, including her signature ninjutsu and taijutsu moves. Samui, being meticulous, destroyed the brains of those she killed as a precaution.

"Your two companions can leave now."

Yagyu created a Wood Clone with a hand sign and instructed Samui, "Take my Wood Clone to find your client. Personally decapitate him and hand the head over to the Wood Clone, and then you are free to go."

"Understood."

Samui nodded, then gave orders to Omoi, who had been released by Shino, "Omoi, take Karui and leave."

"Yes."

Omoi, having regained his composure, followed her instructions and nodded obediently.

Soon after, Omoi carried the unconscious Karui and left, while Samui departed with Yagyu's Wood Clone, carrying the film camera.

Once they were far away, Kurenai asked, "Yagyu, can your sealing technique be discovered?"

"The chances are very slim."

Yagyu replied with confidence, smiling, "Even if they notice something, the Hidden Cloud wouldn't be able to break it unless they kill the three of them."

"If they can't break it, then yes, leaving them alive is more valuable than killing them," Kurenai nodded in agreement.

She didn't inquire about the first sealing technique Yagyu had used. Yagyu had grown far beyond her in strength, and as an elite jōnin who could issue A-rank and even S-rank orders on behalf of the village, his decisions were akin to those of the Hokage outside the village.

If Yagyu chose not to explain, Kurenai, ever the obedient subordinate, wouldn't question him.

Hinata and Shino followed suit, not asking further.

Before long, Yagyu's Wood Clone returned with a package.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld."

Yagyu took back the camera, handed the package containing the target's head to Shino, and performed a series of hand signs. All the bodies sank into the ground, erasing their traces.

While erasing the evidence in such a minor country without detailed maps wasn't strictly necessary, Yagyu had developed a habit of doing so over the years out of professional courtesy.

Poof!

With the traces erased, Team 8 regrouped with Kurama Yakumo and prepared to meet their client to complete the mission.

At that moment, Yagyu's figure suddenly vanished into a puff of smoke.

Team 8's expressions shifted.

They had seen this happen before, two years ago, when the Land of Wind had been attacked by an unknown force.

Now, Yagyu had been reverse-summoned again—was something major happening once more?

Poof!

Moments later, Yagyu reappeared in another puff of smoke, this time with a grave expression.

"Let's complete the mission first, then head to the Land of Rivers. The Akatsuki have made their move. The Fifth Kazekage was captured a few days ago when they infiltrated the Hidden Sand Village."

Hearing this, Team 8's expressions turned grim once more.

"Let's go!"

Wasting no time, Yagyu led Kurenai and the others, rushing to complete the mission. After receiving the final payment and mission report scroll from the client, Yagyu used the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport Team 8 from the island back to the ninja continent.

A few flashes later, they arrived in a forest, where they found several familiar figures, including a ninja hound.

It was Team 7, which had returned the previous year from a fruitless search for Sasuke Uchiha, along with Chiyo from the Hidden Sand Village and Kakashi's ninja dog, Pakkun.

"Yagyu, you're here!"

Sakura greeted Yagyu with delight and instinctively glanced at the 'Yagyu' mark on the back of her hand, feeling a surge of security.

"Yes, I've been briefed on the situation through the scrolls."

Yagyu nodded and asked Team 7 and Chiyo, "Do you have something with Gaara's scent on it?"

"Here."

Kakashi threw Yagyu a piece of clothing.

Yagyu caught it and handed it to Shino.

After sniffing it with his nano-sized tracking insects, Shino said, "The scent has been locked. It's about a thousand kilometers away and hasn't moved."

"A thousand kilometers, and it can still track it? These legendary dream insects are truly impressive," Kakashi marveled, adding, "Such tracking is practically cheating."

"So these are nano-sized insects. Guess I'm not needed here," Pakkun, feeling a bit defeated, said, "Kakashi, I'll head back now."

"Thanks, Pakkun."

Without paying much attention to the man-dog conversation, Yagyu turned to Shino and asked, "Is Gaara still alive?"

"He is. There's no scent of decay," Shino confirmed.

Chiyo let out a sigh of relief.

Just as she was about to speak, Yagyu suddenly made a hand sign and murmured, "Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs!"

Schunk!

The sound of sharp objects piercing flesh echoed around them.

A human-like figure with white skin, covered in wooden spikes, emerged from a nearby tree.

"What is that thing?"

Team 7 and Team 8 were stunned at the sight of the White Zetsu clone.

Hinata, having already activated her Byakugan, was even more astonished. "This person's chakra appeared out of nowhere, but I didn't see it before."

"My insects didn't detect any scent either," Shino added.

"This guy is a clone of a man from the Akatsuki codenamed 'Xuanwu.'"

Yagyu explained, "His clones are special like my Wood Clones. He has a powerful infiltration technique that allows him to merge with the earth and plants, cutting off all his signals. Unless you have a connection to the earth and plants like I do, no sensory techniques will detect him."

"I only discovered them spying on Konoha during my Wood Release training, and that's how I learned of his existence."

"He's the Akatsuki's intelligence officer, responsible for monitoring us."

Yagyu's expression turned serious as he continued, "Be cautious. Based on our investigation with Lord Jiraiya, the Akatsuki are after the nine Tailed Beasts. These clones can share information with the main body, so the Akatsuki now know our location and details."

"If Gaara hasn't been moved, it means they're extracting his Tailed Beast. There will be traps waiting for us."

"Understood!"

Both Team 7 and Team 8 grew tense.

---

In the mountain range of the Land of Rivers, deep inside a cave.

The Akatsuki were using the Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals technique to extract the One-Tail Shukaku from Gaara. It was the third day, and they were nearing the end of the three-day process.

Everyone was exhausted from the continuous sealing process, even the talkative Deidara and "Tobi" were silent.

"We have an issue."

White Zetsu's voice, dripping with mischief, suddenly broke the silence. "Team 8 from Konoha has arrived. That guy Yagyu has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and spotted one of my clones. We can't monitor them anymore."

Deidara and Sasori, busy with the sealing, both frowned.

Sasori asked, "How many hours until the extraction is complete?"

"Five more hours," Pain replied calmly, his Rinnegan glowing. "Don't worry. It's plenty of time."

Then Pain turned to Hundred Faces and Tobi, saying, "Hundred Faces, Tobi, I'll use the Astral Projection Jutsu to create special clones for you two. Go stall the Konoha reinforcements."

"Got it."

Hundred Faces smirked. "I have a special trump card that'll be fun to use against that legendary Wood Release ninja."

"Yes, sir! Mission accepted!" Tobi shouted energetically, his usual persona back.

"Two people may not be enough. I'll join them," Uchiha Itachi said, unexpectedly volunteering.

"Very well."

Pain nodded, and the original body, Nagato, randomly selected three sacrifices, using the Rinnegan's power to draw on the chakra stored in the three's rings, activating the Astral Projection Jutsu.

---

In less than an hour, Team 7 and Team 8 rushed out of the forest to a vast plain, with a mountain range marking the border of the Land of Rivers in the distance.

"Been waiting for you, Konoha shinobi!"

Before they could sprint across the plain, a voice called out.

A figure in a black cloak with red clouds and a swirling mask waved at them cheerfully.

"It's Uchiha Itachi!"

Ignoring the masked man, Team 7's eyes locked onto Itachi standing beside him.

"Oh, ignored again. I'm heartbroken!"

Tobi clutched his chest in mock sadness.

Hundred Faces and Itachi paid no mind to his theatrics.

Hundred Faces glanced at Itachi, saying, "I'd like to run an experiment. I'll handle Team 8; you take care of Team 7 and the Copy Ninja."

"...Fine."

Itachi gave a pointed look at Hundred Faces, his expression growing serious and wary.

While Team 7 included the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Copy Ninja Kakashi, they were clearly outclassed by the already legendary Team 8.

Without further ado, Hundred Faces made a hand sign, shocking everyone present.

"Edo Tensei!"

The name of the technique sent shivers through Itachi, Kakashi, and Chiyo.

A wooden coffin rose from the ground.

With a creak, the coffin's lid fell, and a figure covered in cracks stepped out.

Seeing this figure, Team 7, Team 8, and even Itachi and Tobi, who were aware of Hundred Faces' mastery of Edo Tensei, were all struck with horror.

"Th-The First Hokage!"

Kurenai stammered out the name.

Yes, the resurrected figure was none other than Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.

---

Read 40+ Chapters ahead of WN:

Patréon.com/RoseWhisky